With the explosion of competition on the Internet, differentiation tends to become imperative for a business to survive. Choosing between a WordPress template and a custom design tailored to your needs is a difficult decision. Templates are always a more economical and faster solution, in terms of their installation and operation. However, most, if not all cases, have some serious negative points, such as:
- The flexibility to adapt to the needs of a business
- Differentiation from the competition
- Future difficulties in management and renewal.
In some cases, for example, the manufacturers of such templates chooses for any reason to stop updating them. The result is that your website remains without updates. Below, we will talk about the three main reasons that make the custom website design the best solution for your business.
Custom design based on the needs of your business
Although using a template can have some positives, such as speed of installation and lower costs, it rarely manages to convey the true and unique image of your business. A website designed specifically for you, provides a clear image to the users, that matches your vision and values. Every detail of the design, from colors, fonts and images, is carefully chosen to create a uniform image that can match your physical store, but also the rest of the homogenous image you want to project to your customers, on social media, on business cards, etc
Example
Let’s say your company is in the retail category and you also have a physical store. It would make perfect sense to want to have consistency between your store and your online presence. A template can never be adapted to these needs and the website will be lost among others who have bought the same template. On the other hand, a custom design can have the same features as your physical store, increasing awareness and giving your customers a sense of confidence and security for their online purchases. Also, custom design gives the opportunity to innovate and experiment in order to create a unique digital image.
Planning for long-term growth
Many of the templates are built for simple uses and are often impossible to adapt to future needs that will arise during the development of the business. You will find out sooner or later, that adding new features and increasing traffic creates a lot of problems. A website designed just for you, built by an experienced web design team, offers a solid foundation and can incorporate new features without requiring a complete rebuild.
Example
Imagine you have a retail store that wants to do business online. If you use a template for reasons of cost and speed, it is very likely that you will encounter significant problems in the future. As sales and traffic increase, you will need to add other product categories, more complex filters and different cross-sell, up-sell practices. So, you will probably be faced with the fact that you will have to rebuild the website from scratch. In contrast, a custom website that is specifically designed for your business, will give you the ability to add any functionality in the future. So your website will be able to grow alongside the growth of your business.
Fast performance and SEO optimization
WordPress templates often install unnecessary code and various plugins that burden your website. The result is low performance and subsequently poor search engine results. On the contrary, a website with a custom design has clean code and a well-designed architecture that keeps up with the requirements of search engines such as Google, Bing, etc. Speed and clean code is another factor for SEO as it can contribute positively and be a factor in higher search positions while providing a smooth and fast experience to visitors without delays.
Example
A website that is built with a template can have slow load times resulting in high visitor bounce rates. Let’s not forget that in 2024, slow page loading speeds are the number one reason customers don’t make a purchase. On the contrary, a website that has been created by professionals, with a custom design, and has been designed from the start with speed and functionality in mind, is more attractive to both your customers and search engines.
What should I choose after all?
The choice between using a WordPress template and developing a website with a custom design can have significant effects on functionality, search engine performance and user experience. While templates initially seem to offer economical solutions, in reality as the business develops and grows they create serious problems and additional financial burdens.
In contrast, a custom website designed to match the image and needs of a business offers:
- easy addition of functions in the future
- excellent performance in speed and consequently better positions in search engines
- smooth and fast navigation experience for users, resulting in better conversion rates.
By choosing to create your website with a custom design you are investing in the future success and growth of your business.
I specialize in content marketing, content writing, web design, and digital marketing. With over 10 years of professional experience, I have collaborated with companies across various industries, including technology, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, and financial services. I have taken on content writing projects, delivering high-quality articles and copywriting for clients’ websites, aiming to attract and engage readers.
My expertise lies in keyword research and analysis tailored to each business. I then develop and implement the appropriate content marketing strategies, creating content designed to achieve top positions in search engines like Google. I’m passionate about writing and marketing, and I believe that compelling content, combined with the right strategies, is key to a successful online business.
For the past seven years, I have held the position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Cope Digital Agency, shaping and executing the company’s overall marketing strategy. In addition, I have taken an active role in account management, ensuring excellent collaboration with our clients and delivering high-quality services.
My commitment to providing efficient and innovative solutions across various sectors—from healthcare and technology to tourism and financial services—has strengthened our brand in the market and contributed to the growth of our clients. I believe that a combination of creativity, analytical thinking, and technology is the key to any business’s success.
